Underwear

Is it just us, or is 2014 flying by? Seems like just yesterday we were toasting the new year and shoveling snow—suddenly, it’s nearly spring. If you’ve been infinitely too busy to make a New Year’s resolution or two, fear not—it’s never too late to improve yourself. And unlike last year’s resolution to get ripped like Conan (the Barbarian, not O’Brien), the following five simple style tips will last all year—or even a lifetime.

Ladies: Don’t let your husband or boyfriend continue settling for sub-par, supermarket-bought boxer briefs. They pill, they fade, they sag. You both deserve better—so if he’s been nice this year, drop a couple pairs of Naked Underwear in his stocking (along with a flask and a knife, for good measure).

Gents: Abs lesser than the guy’s above are not a deal breaker, but ratty drawers are. If you know what’s good for you—and have any interest in recreating a similar scene this Yuletide—realize that your 12-year-old self was wrong: Underwear is, in fact, a killer Christmas present.

Naked leads the underwear pack for two reasons: Fit and Fabric. Here are a few notes on Naked’s high-end fabrics, all of which are ethically made in Europe:

Micromodal—spun on a 44-gauge machine; softer than silk; Oekotech certified (a mark of companies that stand for new ideas in environmental protection, waste disposal and recycling).

Microfiber—spun with distilled water from the Italian alps; has a smooth, clean finish; bluesign® certified (one of the highest environmental standards in the textile industry).

Cotton—luxuriously soft, and crafted using green-friendly processes in Europe.

For further insights on Naked’s revolutionary fit, fabrics, and general philosophy, check out the video below, featuring company founder Joel Primus.

Your underwear, on the other hand, should be relegated to the dust bin upon the slightest sign of wear and tear. (If, that is, you plan on anyone’s eyes other than your own catching even a fleeting glimpse of them. )

Do everyone a favor and upgrade from the ratty bulk brand you gravitated toward in college to the streamlined shorts and flattering briefs (now making a comeback) by Hugo Boss.

You’ll look exactly like the guys above. Just kidding. But you will notice a huge difference in how they look and feel, and—with our entire stock of Hugo Boss underwear, undershirts and socks currently 25% off—your wallet will be none the wiser.

It’s also a good thing they look great with jeans, khakis, and definitely boots—so stock up (save $3 on each pair of Pact socks when you buy 3 or more) and wear them all winter long.

The best thing of all, though? Every purchase from Pact’s holiday collection helps The Empowerment Plan provide jobs to homeless women in Detroit. According to Jeff from the Pact team, “It’s an incredible little organization that makes sleeping coats for the homeless. With money raised from our collection, Pact is buying The Empowerment Plan new, industrial sewing machines, so that they can hire more women and make more coats.”

Altruistic through and through, the fine people at Pact even shot their holiday lookbook (including the brave, pantsless gentleman above) at a location they wanted to shine a light on: The Heidelberg Project, a public art environment in Detroit. Learn more about it in the video below, and SHOP PACT UNDERWEAR & SOCKS.

[Photos courtesy of Pact. Video by Tilapia Film, courtesy of The Heidelberg Project.]

Other things—like ‘Marky’ Mark Wahlberg’s improvised dialog in this 1991, MTV-debuted television ad—don’t hold up as well over time. (See a more timeless view of the ’90s in our previous post on photographer Herb Ritts.)

To balance out some of the awkward moments (and testosterone) in the clip above, here are two more Calvin Klein ads, starring Kate Moss (sans Marky) and Eva Mendes, that will likely look as good in 20 years as they do now.

Need another reason to keep your drawer stocked with fresh-from-the-package bedroom attire?Calvin Klein socks, underwear and undershirts are 25% off now through October 8.SHOP CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR SALE

With Calvin Klein’s new ‘Modern Classic’ men’s underwear collection dropping this week, we wanted to look back at those vintage “Marky” Mark Wahlberg ads from 1992 (that’s 20 years ago if you do the math), shot by legendary LA photographer Herb Ritts.

Thing is, it’s not physically possible to google ‘Herb Ritts’ without getting distracted, if not totally awestruck, by his full body of work.

A self-taught photographer, Ritts (1952–2002) forged a distinct vision of beauty that came to define the late ’80s and early ’90s—marking an unprecedented crossover between fine art and commerce, and launching the careers of countless, now-iconic models and actors. His style exalted the human form in a mode reminiscent of classical Greek sculpture—and utilized California’s sand, surf, and late-afternoon sun to full effect, lending warmth and softness to his statuesque compositions.

Scroll down for info on the new Calvin Klein underwear we mentioned—but first take a moment to soak up some of our favorite Herb Ritts photos.

Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989 (via)
This painterly rendering of the supermodel pantheon was shot on Ritts’ own patio. Christy Turlington (in back) wasn’t initially part of the shot; she stopped by to visit and was coaxed to join.

{Top}: Ritts introduced Cindy Crawford to his longtime friend Richard Gere at a barbecue at his mother’s house. This particular shot appeared on a July 1988 magazine cover. (via)

Madonna, Hollywood, 1986 (via)
A version of this image graced the cover of Madonna’s third album, True Blue.
Ritts was one of the first fashion photographers to transition to music video director, masterminding clips for Madonna and more.

One of the aforementioned Calvin Klein ads, co-starring Kate Moss, from 1992. (via)
Ritts’ photography has held up better than Wahlberg’s early-’90s slang—but if you insist,
you can view one of the Ritts-directed, Marky-scripted television spots here.

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As for the new ‘Modern Classic’ collection, it’s inspired by the ones Wahlberg wore, but features an updated fit with lower rise and shorter legs (on the boxer briefs). Also available in trunks and briefs—all with the signature ‘Calvin Klein’ logo on the waistband. Shop all men’s underwear (including the new CK collection).

Further Viewing: The Herb Ritts exhibit at LA’s J. Paul Getty Museum has been extended through September 2. And for photography geeks only: Watch a 12-minute mini-documentary on Ritts and his work here.

Zippers. Buttons. Chafing. There are plenty of reasons to pull on a trusty undergarment every morning.

However, the benefits of a stylish first layer extend far beyond mere functionality. What the debonair George Costanza (above) lacks in definition, he makes up for in confidence, thanks to a classic, masculine pair of boxer shorts.

Our guy Arthur is clearly doing something right, too—how else would he find himself posing as an extra in a women’s lingerie catalog?

Whether chilling in the boudouir, prepping breakfast in bed for his partner in crime, or participating in full-contact sports (pillow fight—what did you think?), he proves that what you wear behind closed doors should be just as on-point as the rest of your wardrobe. If your pairs are not up to par, the time to stock up is now.